• Don’t use coal or charcoal in your fireplace (these burn much hotter than wood — too hot for your chimney — and can produce larger levels of carbon monoxide

If you have a fireplace, you definitely need to have these three things in your home:

• Fire Extinguisher: 1 for every 600 square feet of living space

• Smoke Detector: Since smoke rises, smoke detectors should be installed high up on walls or on the ceiling on every level of the home and in or near bedrooms. If yours is more than 10 years old, it’s time for a new one.

• Carbon Monoxide Detector: Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is a by-product of combustion from both wood-burning and gas-burning fireplaces. You need one on every level of the home as well as in or near all sleeping areas